YORK City are set to travel to home specialists Oxford United without key trio Richard Hope, Darren Edmondson and Darren Dunning.

Hope has joined Edmondson on the injured listwhile Dunning will start a two-match suspension at the Kassam Stadium tomorrow night after reaching ten bookings this season.

Dunning had been due to start the ban against Scunthorpe on Saturday before the game was postponed because of snow. Edmondson had been due to miss that game through injury and now Hope is a doubt for the tough Division Three trip to Oxford.

Player-boss Chris Brass said: "We are waiting on Darren Edmondson and Richard Hope to see if they recover but I think Oxford will probably come a bit too soon for them. Richard has felt a thigh strain and it's a bit tight. It's one of those you don't want to risk otherwise it may become a longer term problem.

"It makes it difficult but we have got to go for the future now and we are looking towards next season. One or two will get their opportunity and we will take it from there."

On-loan Sunderland midfielder Jonjo Dickman is likely to fill in for Dunning while impressive teenager Sean Davies should deputise for Hope, leading to a recall at left-wing back for Dave Merris.

Brass said: "Sean Davies has done well in both games he has played and the kids have got an opportunity. They are the future and that's why we have offered them contracts."

Striker Andy Bell, 20, will also be on the bench at Oxford, having signed on a non-contract basis after being released by Wycombe Wanderers and Leigh Wood and Matthew Coad will join him in a youthful squad.

Bell impressed Brass during a trial at Bootham Crescent last week and the Minstermen manager said: "He's got a bit of pace but I still need to see more of him. I know a lot about his potential a few years ago and as a door as closed on him at Wycombe then another one will open somewhere and hopefully that will be at York.

"He's certainly got a lot of confidence and a little spark and he will be out to prove one or two people wrong. He will be in the squad and the likelihood is we will include him on the bench.

"He's somebody who can come on and knows where the back of the net is. The more attacking people you have on the bench the better."

Updated: 10:46 Tuesday, March 02, 2004